It was the first time Ethan Carter had ever snapped at Sophie Green.

Scolding her was no different from striking me—it stung all the same.

He was so harsh, most likely out of guilt, afraid I might reveal something he didn’t want others to know.

Just last year, on my birthday, Ethan and I were still inseparable—two lifelong singles who spent nearly every day together.

He had held my hand and made a wish with me.

“Claire, may we share this moment year after year, forevermore.”

That night, drunk and unguarded, he said if we both reached twenty-five without finding someone, we’d go get our marriage license.

I had agreed, looking forward to my twenty-fifth birthday with anticipation.

But when the day came, instead of a surprise, he brought Isabella Moore to my party.

And I was left the fool, still expecting something from him.

Sophie had witnessed the entirety of my feelings for Ethan, and now stood frozen, stunned by his outburst.

Everyone else looked at me nervously, expecting me to lash out in defense of her.

Instead, I took Sophie’s hand and calmly broke the tension:

“Everyone’s mistaken. Ethan and I are just like brother and sister. Now that he’s found me a sister-in-law, I couldn’t be happier.”

I spoke with sincerity, but no one believed me.

I didn’t care to explain further. I had no desire to stay any longer, and I rose to leave.

But Isabella suddenly blocked my way.

“Claire, the party’s still going—how can you just leave? Don’t forget, you’re the guest of honor tonight!”

“Or is it that what everyone just said is true? You and Ethan…”

Her eyes welled with tears as she glanced at Ethan, painting herself the victim.

The alcohol seemed to vanish from Ethan’s system as he shot Sophie a furious glare, then hurriedly pulled Isabella into his arms to comfort her.

And in front of everyone, he scolded me harshly:

“Claire Adams, I arranged this celebration for you, and this is how you repay me—by letting your assistant spout nonsense and upset Isabella?”

“Whatever your intentions, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to marry Isabella. Perhaps I was too close to you before and made you misunderstand. From now on, I’ll keep my distance, and I hope you’ll do the same.”

The tenderness in his gaze when he looked at Isabella turned to icy disdain the moment it landed on me.

“Fine.”

My response was sharp and decisive.

That only seemed to anger him more. He demanded Sophie and I drink three glasses each to apologize to Isabella.

He knew very well we were both allergic to alcohol, that we couldn’t drink.

Sophie bristled, ready to lash out, but I stopped her.

I picked up the glass myself, lifted it high, and spoke softly:

“It’s my fault Isabella’s unhappy. I’ll take three drinks as punishment—and as my early blessing for you both. May you have a joyful marriage and a lifetime together.”

I downed the three glasses in one go, then took Sophie’s hand and left.

As I passed Ethan, I whispered:

“I’ll grant your wish and step aside. But keep your woman in check—tell her never to do something as low as planting needles in my dance shoes again.”

Ethan froze, bewildered, but Isabella’s face turned ashen.

She understood. That was enough.

On the way home, Sophie bought me medicine for the allergic reaction, struggling to hold back words.

I knew what she wanted to say, so I spared her the effort:

“Sophie, I was obsessed before.”

“From now on, I’ll never love him again.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged me tightly, crying for the secret love I had never spoken aloud.

In that moment, by all rights, I should have been crying my heart out as well.

But there was nothing left in me to cry.

When Sophie saw my dry eyes and steady expression, she finally believed I had truly let go.

Back home, my father, Richard Adams, had just returned from overseas. He pulled me into a warm embrace.

The moment I felt his familiar arms around me, my tears finally broke free, unstoppable.

In this life, I wasn’t crippled in a car crash, and my father, Richard Adams, hadn’t been turned into a vegetable by Ethan Carter.

Everything seemed to be turning out beautifully.

After a few blissful days enjoying simple father–daughter time, I took the initiative to ask Richard about meeting the man he had once arranged as a potential match for me.

“Claire, have you truly let go of that Carter boy?”

“Yes.”

Richard arranged the meeting at the most famous fine-dining restaurant in Los Angeles.

I arrived half an hour early and chose a window seat.

I had just sat down when I heard Isabella Moore’s coquettish laughter from the private room next door.

“Ethan, these shrimp are too hard to peel~”

“Here, let me help you.”

Ethan’s voice was more tender than he had ever used with me.

I pretended not to hear, lowering my head to stir my coffee.

Then a shadow fell across my table.

“Miss Adams, I’m Andrew Collins, Mr. Foster’s assistant. Mr. Foster had an urgent matter come up and couldn’t make it, so he sent me to apologize.”

Andrew handed me an exclusive American Express Centurion Card.

“Mr. Foster said this was his mistake. Please accept this card as a token of apology.”

It was a rare unlimited card. Just as I was about to decline, a cold laugh rang out behind me.

“Claire Adams, you followed me here just to put on this little show?”

Ethan was suddenly at the door of the private room, eyes full of ridicule.

Isabella clung to his arm and raised her brows at me in triumph.

“Claire, last time you falsely accused me of putting needles in your shoes. Now what is this—another ploy to drive a wedge between Ethan and me?”

“I’m here on a date, Mr. Carter. You and your lady are overthinking.”

The moment he realized I wasn’t even calling him “Ethan” anymore, his expression darkened.

“To get my attention, you came here for a date? And with an assistant, no less? Don’t make me laugh.”

Andrew quickly spoke up.

“Sir, Mr. Foster was delayed by urgent business. He didn’t stand her up intentionally.”

At that, Ethan finally looked directly at Andrew and recognized the Centurion Card.

Then he yanked my wrist.

“Grandma Carter’s birthday is today. Come back with me now—don’t keep her waiting.”

From the shadow in his eyes, I could almost read it: he didn’t want me on this date.

I pulled my hand free.

“I don’t have time.”

Turning back, I accepted the card from Andrew.

“Please thank Mr. Foster for me. I’ll take this for now and arrange to meet him another day.”

Andrew, delighted that I accepted, offered to drive me home.

Ethan’s face turned even darker.

“Claire Adams! My grandmother adores you and is looking forward to seeing you on her birthday. You really mean to defy me?”

But I truly didn’t want to go.

In my past life, though I had been paralyzed, I still carefully prepared a gift and arrived early. Grandma Carter had demanded justice for me, insisting Ethan break up with Isabella and marry me instead. But Ethan had declared publicly that he would marry Isabella no matter what.

This time, even though I wasn’t crippled, I knew she would almost certainly try again to push Ethan and me together.

If I didn’t go, none of that trouble would happen.

But Ethan gave me no choice, dragging me toward his car.

Not wanting Andrew to see the family drama, I apologized to him:

“Sorry, Andrew. Don’t laugh at us—it’s just my god-brother. I’ll go back with him to celebrate his grandmother’s birthday.”

And so, in the end, I went to the Carter Family Estate.

After all, Grandma Carter truly loved me.

Once we arrived, Ethan hurried to present Isabella to her. Isabella smiled sweetly and handed over an expensive gift.

But Grandma Carter didn’t take it. Instead, she warmly grasped my hand.

“Claire, you’re here! I’ve missed you so much lately.”

Isabella’s hand froze in midair, her sugary smile stiffening on her face.

Ethan Carter yanked me away from Grandma Carter’s grasp and dragged me out into the courtyard.

“Claire Adams, what did you say to my grandmother to make her treat Isabella this way?”

I froze.

We had entered the house together, and I hadn’t even spoken more than a few words to Grandma.

Seeing my expression, Ethan looked uneasy but quickly masked it with a warning:

“Today’s Grandma’s birthday. Don’t you dare cause trouble—especially don’t make things hard for Isabella.”

Before he could finish, the sound of sobbing drifted from the yard.

“Grandma, I know you don’t like me, but Ethan and I truly love each other. This gift was chosen with such care…”

Ethan’s expression changed.

When we returned, we saw Grandma had already thrown Isabella’s gift to the ground.

The butler, following her instructions, was about to drive Isabella out.

“Grandma! Isabella is my fiancée. What are you doing?”

But Grandma acted as though she hadn’t heard him. Instead, she beamed at me and said:

“Claire is my granddaughter-in-law. That Isabella—who is she? I don’t recognize her.”

I stood frozen in the doorway, caught between advancing and retreating.

Every gaze in the room was fixed on me.

Isabella’s tears streaked her face, her expression twisting in rage.

Swallowing hard, I forced myself forward and gently soothed Grandma:

“Grandma, Ethan and I are only like brother and sister. Please don’t joke like this. If my sister-in-law ends up in tears, Ethan will cry too—and then you’ll be heartbroken again.”

“And besides, very soon, I’ll be inviting you to my own wedding banquet.”

Grandma’s eyes widened.

“You’re getting married?”

“Yes. My father introduced me to someone. Once we meet and settle the details, I’ll marry him.”

“Nonsense! Claire, how can you marry just anyone?”

She pointed sharply at Ethan.

“You, boy! Come here!”

Reluctantly, Ethan stepped forward.

“Grandma, don’t believe her. She hasn’t even met the man. How could she possibly marry him—”

“Kneel!”

Grandma’s stern command cut him off.

Isabella was so stunned she forgot to cry.

“Grandma! What are you doing?”

But Grandma didn’t even look her way. She glared only at Ethan.

“What did you promise me when you were young? That you’d protect Claire for life. And now, after letting her suffer so much, you still have the nerve to stand tall?”

My nose stung. In my past life, Grandma had also defended me this way. Yet even then, when Ethan and I did marry, our union was nothing but misery.

“Grandma, this has nothing to do with him. I never intended to marry him…”

Ethan wasn’t grateful. Instead, he cast me a resentful look before kneeling stiffly.

“Grandma, I’ve always seen Claire as my sister. Even if we never marry, I’ll protect her for life.”

Isabella rushed forward to pull him up, but Grandma’s single glare sent her retreating in terror.

“Miss Moore, this is Carter family business.”

Pale as death, Isabella burst into tears and ran out.

Ethan tried to rise to chase after her, but Grandma struck her cane against the floor, forcing him back down.

“Don’t you dare!”

Still, Ethan eventually bolted after her, leaving the celebration in ruins.

Afterward, Grandma spoke to me earnestly:

“Claire, Ethan’s only lost in a moment of foolishness. That woman clearly isn’t a good person. Give him time—he’ll see her true colors, understand his own heart, and come back to you.”

When Ethan returned, having failed to find Isabella, he overheard her words. For the first time, he raised his voice at the grandmother who had always spoiled him:

“Grandma! I’m not an idiot. I know who I love! In this life, I’ll marry only Isabella!”

Then he turned to me with fury.

“Claire Adams, if you dare keep spouting nonsense to my grandmother, then don’t think we’ll even stay brother and sister!”